Akbaruddin acquitted in hate speech cases

Hyderabad: In a huge relief to AIMIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi, a special court in Hyderabad on Wednesday acquitted him in alleged hate speech cases.

The Special Sessions Judge for Trial of Criminal Cases relating to MPs and MLAs acquitted him of all charges in both the cases registered against him in Nirmal and Nizamabad in 2013.

The case could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt, hence the court acquitted Akbaruddin Owaisi of all charges, his counsel Abdul Azeem told reporters outside the Nampally Court Complex.

He said the court found that the videos and cassettes of the speeches presented before it were not genuine. Counsel said the evidence was presented in the form of pieces of speech and not as continuous speech and hence, the court gave benefit of doubt to the accused.

Akbaruddin Owaisi, a leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Telangana Legislative Assembly, is the younger brother of AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

The MLA from Chandrayangutta constituency in Hyderabad, he was present in the court when the judge pronounced the verdict but quietly left the premises.

While Akbaruddin Owaisi has not reacted to the court verdict, his elder brother took to Twitter to thank Allah. "Alhamdulilah Akbaruddin Owaisi has been acquitted by MP/MLA Special Court in two criminal cases against him for alleged hate speeches. Grateful to all for their prayers & support. Special thanks to Advocate Abdul Azeem sb & senior lawyers who provided their valuable assistance," he posted. Two cases were registered against Akbaruddin Owaisi at two police stations in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts in relation to his alleged hate speeches at Nirmal and Nizamabad on December 8 and 22, 2012.

The MIM leader was arrested on January 7, 2013 after his speeches went viral on social networking sites. After spending 40 days in jail, he walked free after a court granted him bail.